North Korea: 'Outbreak of war hours away'

(London Telegraph) North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un has ordered missile units to prepare to strike US mainland as a British tour operator was warned that the “outbreak of war probably only hours away”.

The order came after US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Washington would not be cowed by Pyongyang’s bellicose threats and stood ready to respond to “any eventuality”.

Mr Kim directed his rocket units on standby at an overnight emergency meeting with top army commanders, hours after nuclear-capable US B-2 stealth bombers were deployed in ongoing US joint military drills with South Korea.